Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-09
LIVE TOPICS FOR CHRISTIANS.

The Evangelical Alliance Discuss the Social Vice and the Labor Question. WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The Christian con- ference to day was addressed by Colonel J. L. Green of Hartford, his subject being 'fThe Social Vice" He said, among other things; Impurity is a poison insinuating itself every where and SO doing it's work even more ter ribly than when it shows itself in more shocking outward forms. The speaker named among the more dangerous and more unnoticed agencies for promoting the social vice: First, the public school with it's inevi- table minglng of the pure and impure, where evil influences are as rife as fungi in swamp The White Cross work is especially needed here. Second, the novel-against which we do not nowadays hear the protest that we ought Pure fiction does not con- stitute the bulk of that published. A vast number read almost nothing of any sort except highly spiced impure fiction. Third, the sensational, scandal monging tion. The eyes of journalism are turned into every corner; alas, that it's won- derfu1 acumen is so largely employed to dis cover that which is poisonous. Fourth, art in painting, sculpture and music. It may and often does disseminate impure suggestions in
 
 said the speaker, that society makes such difference in it's treatment of shining men and women and that the laws help this ten dency.
 Simeon E. Baldwin of the faculty of New Haven law school said he thought the Greek and Roman ancient nations generally were wisest in making the father the priest. In this respect he thought the Roman Catholic church does better than others. GA voice, t'I don't recognize it as Christian church at all. {" f'I have found in work I have done in Con- ! necticut in connection with MT. Dike that the Catholic church has often given us most effi- cient help, responded MT. Baldwin.
 President Dodge said that the Alliance has always co-operated heartily with the Catholic church for all that is good, although it had been obliged to protest against the Ultramon- | tane attack upon our public schools.
 Rev. Dr. J. N. Williams, vice president of l the Baltimore Alliance, said that woman is | the chief teacher in the homo school to which we must mainly look for training in purity. | Rev. M. W. Presby, of Philadelphia, said I that many of the young are reached by i'm l pure contamination because the church does not handle this matter without gloves. President John Eaton of Marietta college, 1 Ohio, late United States commissioner of 1 education, then read paper on "Illiteracy," l in the course of which he said that illiteracy | is a measure of ignorance, sign of dark ! ness. an invitation to fraud, cover to iniq-
 
 l flinders industry and prosperity, obstructs purity and imperils piety. President Angen of Michigan university presided at the after noon session and introduced President Me- | Gosh of Princeton college, who read paper on ssThe Church in Relation to the Capital and Labor Question" Life, he said, is 8 l struggle for existence The contest between capital and labor is an old one and it is like | 1y to continue for ages to come. Christ de- | clined to judge in case about prop l erty. The church and State are distinct ! and neither should -usurp the functions of the other. am one of four huRdred or more in Scotland, said the speaker, who re- signed their iyings and founded the free 1 church of Scotland. Unworthy men are ap- l pointed when political influences direct the | church. Her weapons are spiritual. On the I other hand man has 6 right to property in l land and merchandise and the State is to pro | tect human rights. It has been unjustly 1 charged that the church is not friend to l the poor. Facts show her to be their friend. 1 The bulk of membership is of the middle l class. If the lower classes are elevated it l will be by themselves and not by those above them. Their efforts and leaders are too often unwise, fanatical, violent. The church is & 1 mediator and teaches to rebuke the oppressor | and instruct the laboring classes. The 1 speaker said he had travelled seven thousand l miles in this land before he came to be 8 l citizens Where are the laboring peopleal l
 asked. Fwo-thirds of the people furnish but
 one-tenth the church attendants. The clerks
 and merchants are there more generally than
 the poor 1aborer. He is jealous of the we'll
 to-do people and does not care to mingle l with them. It is our duty to go to the work ingmen, approach them respectfully and not with patronizing condescension. Pastoral and evangelical work is demanded.
 Hon. Seth Low of Brooklyn followed Dr.